In the summer of 1240, a small Swedish military detachment landed at the mouth of the Neva River, arriving on 6-7 ships (and in in this case information from sources is contradictory).
How did we learn about the Battle of the Neva? The descendants of the Vikings often staged surprise attacks on neighboring territories. Unfortunately, few sources testify to the events of the summer of 1240. There is no information about the Battle of Neva in Swedish sources; a brief account of the Novgorod First Chronicle and a more extensive text of the “Life” of Alexander Nevsky, which was created in the 1280s, have been preserved in Russian. and probably contained eyewitness accounts of the deeds of the great Russian prince.
Interests of the Swedes. Historians disagree about plans and progress military operation Swedish knights in 1240. Some of them believe that the Swedish military expedition was in the nature of an ordinary predatory raid that did not have far-reaching goals. Others believe that the Swedish "landing" had strategic objectives. The fact is that the interests of the Swedish nobility and the Novgorod boyars collided on the Karelian Isthmus, over which both equally tried to establish control.
In the second half of the 12th century, Swedish knights conquered Southwestern Finland, and from the beginning of the 13th century. They also brought under their control the Em tribe, whose territory Novgorod also laid claim to. The clash between the Novgorodians and the Swedes in the struggle for disputed territories was inevitable. The Swedes' landing at the mouth of the Neva was of a reconnaissance nature. If successful, the Swedish conquerors could not only gain a foothold on the lines north of the Neva, but also prepare a springboard for the gradual occupation of the Novgorod territories. Close interest in the northern territories inhabited by pagans (for example, the Finnish tribe of Tavasts) and “schismatics” - Orthodox, was also shown by Catholic Church. Of course, the Swedes knew about the situation in Rus' after the Tatar pogrom and understood that Novgorod would not receive the usual military assistance from the southern Russian lands.
The capture of the banks of the Neva was supposed to help the Swedes complete the capture of Finland, but for Novgorod the loss of the Neva also meant the loss of the only access to the Baltic Sea and the collapse of all foreign trade.
Sum is getting ready to go on a hike. The campaign was carried out by Swedish knights with detachments of the Sumy tribe under their control. The expedition was led by the noble Swedish knight Ulf Fasi. At this time Sweden did not have navy, therefore, a militia gathered at the organization of the sea military campaign. Each coastal region had to equip, equip and provide provisions and sailors for a certain number of ships. The crossing of the sea, the loading of a military detachment from the Sumi tribe onto the ships, and finally the journey from South-Western Finland probably took at least two weeks, so the start of the campaign should be dated to the end of June.
The initial target of the Swedish landing was the Ladoga fortress located at the mouth of the Volkhov, the capture of which opened up broad prospects for the conquest of the entire Northwestern Territory and the spread of Catholicism.
The movement of the Swedes was first “guarded” by the Izhora elder Pelgusy, who was on patrol in the Neva delta. He sent messengers, who arrived in Novgorod on replacement horses within 10 hours.
Prince Alexander acts quickly and secretly. The sudden landing of the Swedish "landing" put Prince Alexander in a difficult position. Without time for lengthy preparations, he had to attack the enemy as soon as possible with his squad and the forces that could be collected in the immediate vicinity. The preparations for the Russian military commander took no more than a day. Apparently, most of his troops were foot detachments, transported to the scene of events on river boats along the Volkhov and Neva rivers to the mouth of Izhora, where the Swedish camp was located. For Alexander Yaroslavich, with a small number of troops, surprise was very important. But from the upper reaches of the Neva to the mouth of the Izhora there was an excellent overview of the river flow for many kilometers. Naturally, Swedish patrols would have easily detected the enemy. Therefore, Russian troops landed ashore a few kilometers from the site of the upcoming battle.
Alexander gathered his troops far from the enemy's location; Russian squads managed to secretly approach the enemy camp. The Swedes, camped at the mouth of the Neva, clearly did not expect the enemy to appear.
The sources do not contain accurate information about the number of Russian and Swedish troops. Considering that for the Swedes the campaign was more of a reconnaissance nature, and the Prince of Novgorod gathered his troops as quickly as possible, no more than 3-5 thousand people took part in the battle on both sides.
The battle. The defeat of the Swedes. Alexander Nevsky brilliantly exploited the confusion of the enemy, who was not prepared for battle. The Russian army consisted of no less than five detachments, each of which had its own task. The Swedes maintained a typical battle formation, when ordinary warriors were surrounded by knights in a strictly defined order.
The battle began with an attack by spearmen (foot troops armed with long spears), which inflicted serious damage on the enemy. Another part of the army, wielding axes, cut into the very thick of the enemy, cutting off the base of the tent, a kind of headquarters of the Swedish military leader. While the prince's equestrian squad was methodically destroying the Swedes' camp, the militia blocked the enemy's path to retreat.
The battle consisted of many skirmishes, attacks, and clashes between Swedish and Russian troops. The initiative belonged to the Russians, but the Swedes also offered desperate resistance, since a panicked flight to the ships would have meant certain death.
Russian heroes. The detachments converged and dispersed more than once, therefore, the opposing troops maintained military discipline throughout the battle, battle formations, ability to manage. The Swedes, realizing the hopelessness of the situation, fought with the despair of the doomed. As the chronicle tells, many Novgorodians distinguished themselves with military prowess in battle. Sbyslav Yakunovich fought among many enemies and “without fear in his heart, he struck down many of them”; Gavrila Oleksich, whom A.S. Pushkin considered him his ancestor, pursued the noble Swede all the way to the ship, was thrown into the water, but managed to swim out and continued to fight; Novgorodian Misha and his detachment destroyed three light Swedish ships, and Savva cut down the tent of the leader of the Swedish detachment.
A typical medieval battle. It is unlikely that the conclusion of some historians is correct that Alexander Yaroslavich’s squad went behind enemy lines and cut off the enemy’s path to retreat, since in this case the entire Swedish detachment would have been cut off from their ships and destroyed, which, as follows from the text of the chronicle and " Life..." did not happen. In addition, in medieval battles, as a rule, the goal was not the complete destruction of the enemy. The losing side left the battlefield, which the winners did not hinder at all. In this sense, the Battle of the Neva was a typical medieval battle.
The battle on July 15, 1240 lasted from 10 a.m. until late in the evening. With the onset of darkness, the Swedes gathered the remnants of the army and went home on the surviving ships, not forgetting to pick up the bodies of the dead noble warriors.
The scale of the battle and its significance. The Battle of the Neva is not one of the largest in military history. The Novgorod chronicles indicate the number of Novgorodians killed at 20 people, while the Swedes allegedly loaded three ships with the bodies of the dead, which is undoubtedly an exaggeration. Losses on both sides apparently amounted to several hundred people. Among the legends is the chronicle tale of the death of the noble Swedish military leader, Jarl Birger, from the sword of Alexander Nevsky.
Nevertheless, the brilliant victory of Rus' over foreign conquerors had a great historical meaning. Firstly, the Swedes failed to capture Ladoga and begin the systematic seizure of Russian territories. Secondly, the possibility of accidental or planned interaction between Swedish and German knights on Russian soil was excluded. Finally, the Swedes failed to cut off the Russian north-west from the Baltic Sea and control the trade route to the “lower lands”.
Read also other topics Part IX "Rus between East and West: battles of the 13th and 15th centuries." section "Rus and Slavic countries in the Middle Ages":
- 39. “Who is the essence and the split-off”: Tatar-Mongols by the beginning of the 13th century.
- 41. Genghis Khan and the “Muslim front”: campaigns, sieges, conquests
- 42. Rus' and the Polovtsians on the eve of Kalka
- Polovtsy. Military-political organization and social structure of the Polovtsian hordes
- Prince Mstislav Udaloy. Princely Congress in Kyiv - the decision to help the Polovtsians
- 44. Crusaders in the Eastern Baltic
The Battle of the Neva in 1240 not only gave Rus' a new saint - Prince Alexander Nevsky. Its historical significance lies in preventing the aggressive feudal lords of Northern Europe from seizing significant Russian territories.
Reasons and background
The reasons for the Battle of the Neva in 1240 lie in the policy of “pressure to the east” pursued in the 12th-13th centuries by the top of the Northern European countries (primarily Germany, Sweden and Denmark). They viewed the Slavic peoples as “savages” who were unnecessarily occupying significant land. The situation was aggravated by the religious factor - Rome called on the knights of Northern Europe not just to war, but to a crusade against the “schismatics” (in 1054, the formally united Christian church, as a result of a “schism,” was officially divided into Catholic and Orthodox). The transformation of robbery into a charitable deed is a common ideological device of the era of the Crusades.
The events of 1240 were not the first conflict - wars had been fought intermittently since the 9th century. However, in the century the situation changed in favor of the invaders from the West - Rus' was forced to repel the Mongol invasion, suffered defeats, and its military power was in doubt.
Failure of Swedish plans
The goals of the parties in the war of 1240 are obvious. The Swedes needed to cut off Russian possessions from Finnish lands and the Baltic coast. This made it possible to further advance inland, as well as control over maritime trade, a significant part of which was in the hands of Novgorod and Pskov merchants. In turn, Rus' could not allow the loss of the coast and the prolongation of the conflict in the West in the conditions serious problems with the Mongols in the southeast.
The Swedish army, having entered the Neva on ships, settled down at the confluence of the Izhora into it. From the available descriptions, it can be understood that the commanders (Jarl Ulf Fosi and the royal son-in-law Birger) intended to calmly land and then advance deeper into the Novgorod possessions.
But the course of the battle immediately turned not in favor of the Swedes - the battle went according to Prince Alexander’s plan. It took place on July 15th. The reasons for the Russian victory in the Battle of the Neva lie in several factors at once - good reconnaissance work, speed and surprise.
The scout was Pelgusy, an Izhora foreman, who promptly reported to Novgorod about the approach of an enemy army. Prince Alexander decided to attack as quickly as possible, while part of the enemy army had not yet unloaded from the ships. His army consisted of a princely equestrian squad and a foot city militia. The blow was delivered in two directions at once - to the center of the enemy camp and along the river bank, which made it possible to cut off the people on the ships from the command.
History has preserved the names of some of the participants in the battle - the warrior Gavrila Oleksich, who boarded the Swedish ship on horseback, and the militia Savva. This ax managed to cut down the supports of Birger's tent. He fell on the royal son-in-law's head, causing panic in the Swedish ranks.
East is a delicate matter
The results of the Battle of the Neva were of little comfort to the invaders - they suffered a crushing defeat. History awarded the young winner (Alexander was 20 years old) with the nickname Nevsky. He consolidated his success 2 years later, winning a brilliant victory on Lake Peipsi.
Although Rus' soon lost access to the Baltic, the importance of the Battle of the Neva does not diminish from this. As a result of the victory, the “onslaught to the east” was stopped, and most of the North Russian lands retained their independence.
On July 15, 1240, an epoch-making battle took place on the Neva River. Russian troops under the command won a crushing victory over the Swedish army. After this event, Alexander received the famous nickname Nevsky. This name is known to every Russian to this day.
Background
The Battle of the Neva River in 1240 did not start spontaneously. It was preceded by a number of important political and historical events.
In the first half of the 13th century, the Swedes, united with the Novgorodians, carried out regular raids on Finnish tribes. They called them punitive campaigns, the purpose of which was to subjugate everything to their will. more people. The Sumy and Em tribes suffered the most from the Swedes. This became the cause of protracted conflicts. The Swedes feared a blow from the Finns, so they sought to baptize them and make them their allies.
The conquerors did not stop there. They periodically carried out predatory raids on the lands along the Neva, as well as directly on Novgorod territory. Sweden was significantly weakened by internal conflicts, so it sought to attract as many warriors and nobles as possible to its side. They did not hesitate to persuade those who liked easy money to win over to their side. For a long time, Finno-Karelian troops raided Swedish lands, and in 1187 they completely united with the Novgorodians. They burned Sigtuna - ancient capital Sweden.
This confrontation lasted for a long time. Each side, both Swedish and Russian, sought to establish its power on the Izhora land, which was located along the Neva, as well as on the Karelian Isthmus.
A significant date preceding such a famous event as the Battle of the Neva River was the proclamation of the second crusade against Finland by Pope Gregory IX in December 1237. In June 1238, King Waldemar II of Denmark and Master of the United Order Hermann von Balck agreed to divide the Estonian state, as well as to begin military operations against Rus' in the Baltic states with the involvement of the Swedes. This is what provoked the Battle of the Neva River. The date, the events of which are still known today, became the starting point in the history of Rus' and its relations with neighboring states. The battle showed the ability of our state to repel the powerful army of the enemy. It should be taken into account that the Battle of the Neva River took place at a difficult time. Russian lands have just begun to recover after many years Mongol invasion and the strength of the troops was significantly weakened.
Battle of the Neva River: sources
Historians have to collect information about such ancient events literally bit by bit. Many researchers are interested in the date of such events as the Battle of the Neva River. The battle is briefly described in chronological documents. Of course, such sources are few in number. One of the most famous can be called the Novgorod First Chronicle. Information can also be gleaned from the story about the life of Alexander Nevsky. It is assumed that it was written by contemporaries of those events no later than the eighties of the 13th century.
If we consider Scandinavian sources, they do not contain detailed information about such significant battles as the Battle of the Neva River and the Battle of the Ice. You can only read that a small Swedish detachment was defeated as part of the Finnish Crusade.
It is also not known for certain who led the Scandinavian army. Based on Russian sources, scholars say that it was the king's son-in-law Birger Magnusson.
But he became the jarl of Sweden only in 1248, and at the time of the battle he was Ulf Fasi, who most likely led the campaign. At the same time, Birger did not participate in it, although there is an opposite opinion. Thus, the results of archaeological excavations indicate that Birger was wounded in the facial part of the head during his lifetime. This coincides with information that Alexander Nevsky wounded the king himself in the eye.
Battle of the Neva River: date
Historical events until the 16th century were not recorded in certain official sources. Very often, historians cannot establish the exact day or even the approximate period when a particular battle took place. But that's not the case important event like the battle on the Neva River. In what year did it happen? Historians know the exact answer to this question. This battle dates back to July 15, 1240.
Events before the battle
No battle starts spontaneously. A number of events also occurred that led to such a difficult moment as the Battle of the Neva River. The year in which it occurred began for the Swedes with their unification with the Novgorodians. In the summer, their ships arrived at the mouth of the Neva. The Swedes and their allies landed on the coast and pitched their tents. This happened in the place where Izhora flows into the Neva.
The composition of the army was varied. It included Swedes, Novgorodians, Norwegians, representatives of Finnish tribes and, of course, Catholic bishops. The borders of the Novgorod lands were protected by maritime guards. It was provided by the Izhorians at the mouth of the Neva, on both sides of the Gulf of Finland. It was the elder of this guard, Pelgusius, at dawn of a July day who discovered that the Swedish flotilla was already close. The messengers hastened to inform Prince Alexander about this.
The Livonian campaign of the Swedes against Rus' began only in August, which suggests that they took a wait-and-see attitude, as well as the immediate and lightning-fast reaction of Prince Alexander. Having received news that the enemy was already close, he decided to act independently, without resorting to the help of his father. Alexander Yaroslavovich went into battle with a small squad. The Battle of the Neva River became a chance for the young prince to prove himself as a commander. Therefore, many troops did not have time to join him. The Ladoga militias, who joined him along the way, also took Alexander’s side.
According to the customs that existed at that time, the entire squad gathered at the Hagia Sophia Cathedral, where they were blessed by Archbishop Spyridon. At the same time, Alexander delivered a parting speech, quotes from which are still known today: “God is not in power, but in truth!”
The detachment moved overland along the Volkhov all the way to Ladoga. From there he turned to the mouth of the Izhora. For the most part, the army consisted of mounted warriors, but there was also infantry. To save travel time, this part of the detachment also rode horses.
Chronology of the battle
The battle began on July 15, 1940. It is known that in the Russian army, in addition to the princely squad, at least three more detachments of noble Novgorod commanders, as well as Ladoga residents, took part.
The Life mentions the names of six warriors who committed heroic deeds during the battle.
Gavrilo Olekseich boarded an enemy ship, from where he was dropped wounded, but despite this he boarded again and continued to fight. Sbyslav Yakunovich was armed only with an ax, but nevertheless rushed into the thick of the battle. Alexander's hunter Yakov Polochanin fought no less bravely. The youth Savva burst into the enemy camp and cut down the Swedes’ tent. Misha from Novgorod took part in the battle on foot and sank three enemy ships. Ratmir, the servant of Alexander Yaroslavovchia, fought bravely with several Swedes, after which he was wounded and died on the battlefield.
The battle continued from morning until evening. By nightfall the opponents dispersed. The Swedes, realizing that they had suffered a crushing defeat, retreated on their surviving ships and crossed to the opposite bank.
It is known that the Russian army did not pursue the enemy. The reason for this is unknown. Perhaps the knightly custom of not interfering with burying his fighters during a respite had an effect. Perhaps Alexander did not see the need to finish off the handful of remaining Swedes and did not want to risk his army.
The losses of the Russian detachment amounted to XX noble warriors, and their warriors should also be added here. There were many more dead among the Swedes. Historians talk about dozens, if not hundreds of soldiers killed.
Results
The Battle of the Neva River, the date of which will be remembered for centuries, made it possible to prevent the danger of an attack by Sweden and the Order on Rus' in the near future. Alexander's army decisively stopped their invasion of Ladoga and Novgorod.
However, the Novgorod boyars began to fear that Alexander's power over them would increase. They began to plot various intrigues against the young prince, eventually forcing him to go to his father Yaroslav. However, very soon they asked him to return to continue the battle with which he approached Pskov.
Memory of the battle
In order not to forget about distant events on the Neva, Alexander's descendants sought to perpetuate the memories of them. Thus, monumental architectural monuments were created, which were restored several times. In addition, the image of Alexander Nevsky is also depicted on coins and commemorative stamps.
Alexander Nevsky Lavra
This monolithic building was erected by Peter I in 1710. The Alexander Nevsky Monastery was built at the mouth of the Black River in St. Petersburg. At that time it was mistakenly assumed that the battle took place in this very place. The inspiration and creator of the monastery was Subsequently, other architects continued the work.
In 1724, the remains of Alexander Yaroslavovich were transported here. Now the territory of the Lavra is state-owned national reserve. The ensemble includes several churches, a museum and a cemetery. On it rest such famous people, like Mikhail Lomonosov, Alexander Suvorov, Nikolai Karamzin, Mikhail Glinka, Modest Mussorgsky, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Church of Alexander Nevsky in Ust-Izhora
This building was erected in honor of the victory in the battle of 1240. Date of construction - 1711. The church burned violently several times and was rebuilt. At the end of the 18th century, a stone church with a bell tower was built by parishioners.
In 1934 the church was closed and for a long time was used as a warehouse. During Leningrad blockade The temple tower was blown up as it served as a landmark for German artillery.
In 1990, work began on the restoration of the church, and a few years later it was consecrated. There is a small cemetery near the temple, as well as a monument-chapel with an image of Alexander Nevsky.
Printing coins and stamps
From time to time, the image of Alexander Yaroslavovich is also used in printing. So, in 1995, a commemorative coin with his image was issued. In the anniversary years following the battle, significant stamps are also issued, which are of great interest to philatelists.
Film adaptations
The film starred such actors as Svetlana Bakulina and Director Igor Kalenov.
At the beginning of the 13th century, Rus' found itself between two fires: the Tatar-Mongols came from the East, and from the West came the Germans, Swedes, Danes and armies of other countries who wanted to conquer new lands, taking advantage of the weakness Kievan Rus. In this article we will talk about the invasion from the West, in particular, we will briefly consider the Battle of the Neva. This is important historical event, which is as important as it is contradictory. But let's talk about everything in order...
Reasons for the battle
In 1240, Batu's invasion began. Taking advantage of these events, the Swedish king decided to attack Rus', capturing the large trading city of Novgorod. There were prerequisites for this great amount:
- The enemy was bogged down in heavy fighting, suffering heavy losses. The Mongols destroyed most of the male population of Rus'.
- Novgorod, despite the fact that it did not see the invasion, remained alone, without the support of other principalities.
- Novgorod was ruled by the young prince Alexander Yaroslavich, who had not been glorified by any great deeds before.
As a result, in July 1240, the Swedish army led its fleet to the mouth of the Neva. The command of the army was taken over by the son-in-law of the Swedish king, Birger. Moving inland, his army stopped on the left bank of the Neva, not far from the mouth of the Izhora. The Swedes were so confident of their victory that, according to some sources, they sent a message to the young Prince Alexander that said “We are here and we will capture you and your land.”
As for Alexander’s actions, he had accurate information about the movements of the Swedish army, since reconnaissance activities were well established in Novgorod. The young prince decided to use the factor of surprise by gathering the city militia and making a rapid march to the place where the Swedish army stopped. During the movement of troops, more and more new detachments joined him.
Map of the Neva Battle
The Battle of Neva took place on July 15, 1240. In this battle, the Russians and the Swedes came together. On this day, Alexander's troops secretly approached the camp where the Swedes were staying.
The young prince's plan was as follows:
- The militia were supposed to cut off the Swedes' path to retreat to the ships.
- A sudden and powerful attack from the cavalry was supposed to inflict a decisive defeat on the enemy.
The Russian army launched a surprise attack on the developed plan. The Swedes did not expect such a turn of events, as a result of which panic began in their ranks. This panic was aggravated by the fact that short time After the battle began, the Swedish bishop was killed, Birger's tent was destroyed, and the militia destroyed 3 Swedish ships. The suddenness of the attack, as well as the major successes of the Russian army, forced the Swedes to retreat.
The Battle of the Neva continued until evening. During the battle, the Russian army lost 20 people killed. There is no exact information about how many Swedes died. But if you believe historical sources, then most of the army was destroyed and the number of dead is tens and hundreds. Some chronicles mention that the day after the battle, on the other side of the Neva River, the Swedes buried those who died in the battle. After that, they left Russian soil on ships that were preserved after the battle.
Participants in the battle
The problem in studying the Battle of the Neva is that very few historical sources have survived where this battle is described in full. In fact, we can only study this historical event on the basis of chronicles, which are very contradictory. In particular, there is very little information about historical figures who took part in this battle.
In addition to Alexander, who as a result of this battle received the nickname Nevsky, the following people took part in the battle:
- Gavrilo Oleksich - fought on ships, he was thrown off the ships several times, but he returned.
- Sbyslav Yakunovich - fought in the center of events with one ax, but, skillfully using his weapon, he brought panic to the enemy ranks.
- Yakov Polochanin also fought in the very center of events, but wielded a sword.
- Savva - noted for cutting down the tent of the Swedish commander Birger.
- Misha - commanded a detachment of militias, together with whom he sank 3 ships.
- Ratmir is the personal servant of Prince Alexander, who fought in the battle but was killed.
There is no other information about the individuals who took part in this battle.
Historical significance of the Battle of Neva
The historical significance of the Battle of the Neva, which we briefly reviewed in this article, is very controversial. The main thing that should be said is that the young Prince Alexander managed to defeat the Swedes, thereby securing Novgorod from attempts to seize it from Western countries. On the other hand, there is an absolute contradiction in the actions of the Novgorodians themselves. Despite the prince’s brilliant victory, and despite the fact that the significance of his victory was recognized by everyone, which is expressed, for example, in giving him the nickname “Nevsky,” the Novgorodians expelled Alexander from the city almost immediately after the battle. He returned only a year later, when Novgorodkovka was threatened by military danger in the face of the Livonian Order.
Weaknesses and criticism
Above, we have already partially examined the issues that even a cursory study of the Battle of the Neva indicates that this is a very controversial event. In particular, a number modern historians they say that this was not some kind of general and super important historical battle, but a simple border conflict. It is quite difficult to verify this, but this statement is not without logic, since it is difficult to imagine an important historical confrontation and an important historical battle, in which less than 100 people died. No, we do not have any exact information about the losses of the Swedes. This figure, depending on the sources, varies from several dozen people to hundreds. But this is only one aspect to consider. There are other important factors:
- Contradiction in the chronicles. If we consider Western sources, they have no mention at all of the battle that took place in 1240. If we consider the Russian chronicles, then in the Ipatiev Chronicle there is also no mention of the battle, and the Laurentian Chronicle very briefly describes the Battle of the Neva in 1263, and not in 1240.
- Illogical behavior of the Swedes. It is absolutely incomprehensible why the army that came with the goal of conquest did not move in the direction of Novgorod, and also did not build a fortified camp. If we consider the classic idea of the event, we get the feeling that the Swedes came not to war, but to a picnic. It is also unclear why, after the defeat, the Swedes remained at the battle site for another day, managing to save all the dead.
- Swedish historical sources say that Birger did not leave the country in 1240. Also this year, not a single one of the lists of this country died, but if you believe the generally accepted version, a Swedish bishop died in the battle.
These contradictory sides are presented in order to create a clear idea that this historical event is not as clear as it is commonly said. The fact is that the Battle of the Neva really took place, but all the details of this event are described very little, and a huge number of questions remain, the answers to which, most likely, no one will give. But in any case, we talked about the victory of the Russian troops over the Vedas from different points of view, and each reader draws his own conclusions.
Alexander Nevsky's father, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, left Novgorod in 1236, where he had ruled before and took the throne in Kyiv. At the same time, he does not want to lose control over Novgorod. So his second son Alexander Yaroslavovich ended up on the Novgorod throne. Yaroslav's eldest son was Fedor, but he died a little earlier than the events that took place.
So Alexander, who in the future would be given the nickname “Nevsky,” ended up in Novgorod as a prince. Later, his name will go down in Russian history as a man who defended the Russian land from invasion from the West. In this article we will look at two battles of Alexander Nevsky - the Battle of Neva and the Battle of Lake Peipsi.
Prince Alexander Nevsky and neighbors
In 1236, Alexander turned 15 years old. He had already become an adult and could reign on his own. As soon as he began to rule in Novgorod, he encountered some problems.
- The problem of the relationship between Novgorod and its Western neighbors - the republic bordered on the Norwegian, Swedish and Danish kingdoms and the German Order of the Sword;
- The problem of invasions from the southwest of the Lithuanian state;
Novgorod and the Kingdom of Sweden have long been at odds. This was primarily due to the Swedish invasion of the territory of the Finnish tribes. At the same time, the boyars of Novgorod, using the support of the local nobility, subjugated some of the Finnish tribes. They forced them to pay tribute. But the Novgorodians no longer encroached on the Finnish tribes. No strongholds or centers for the spread of Christianity were built. The Swedish feudal lords sought to gain a foothold in the Finnish lands, building fortresses there, introducing their own laws and forcibly converting to Catholicism.
At first, the Finnish tribes perceived Swedish expansion positively. Playing on contradictions, they wanted to get rid of tribute from Novgorod. But then I understand the danger, they began to organize uprisings against the Swedes, this happened in 1236-1237. Novgorod and Prince Alexander Nevsky did not stand aside. They also helped the Finnish tribes to oppose Swedish expansion at this time.
Relations with the Baltic Germans developed differently. The Germans first appeared in the Eastern Baltic in the 1180s. They preached sermons, but without success they began to forcibly impose Catholicism. At the beginning of the 13th century, Theodoric founded the Order of the Sword in the Baltic states; it was later recognized by Pope Innocent III. The Swordsmen captured the lands of the Prince of Polotsk, and then began to encroach on Novgorod. Namely in the Peipus land to the city of Yuryev.
It is interesting that many are mistaken about who founded Yuryev and in whose honor it received its name. It is generally accepted that it bears its name in honor of Yuri Dolgorukov and was actually founded by him. But that's not true. It was founded by Yaroslav the Wise in the first halfXI century, George was considered the heavenly ruler. The names Georgy and Yuri at that time in Rus' were identical. This is how the city of Yuryev got its name - it became the main stronghold of Rus' in the Peipus land.
Battle of the Neva Alexander Nevsky
In the summer of 1240, the Swedish fleet under the command of King Erik Lespe invaded the territory of the Novgorod Republic. The Swedes chose the right time to attack Novgorod. At this time, Batu’s troops also caused inconvenience to the Russians. Alexander Nevsky had no one to expect help from.
It was lucky that the news that Swedish troops had arrived at the mouth of the Neva River reached Novgorod and Alexander in a timely manner. There they decided that the Swedes' goal on the campaign was Ladoga. The problem was that the republic could not afford a huge army. Alexander Yaroslavovich had to be content with only a small number of soldiers. Gathering a squad, he went to Ladoga; there were no Swedes there. The prince then moved with his army to the Neva.
On July 15, 1240, early in the morning, Russian regiments unexpectedly attacked the Swedish army. The Swedes were unable to build their regiments; they only managed to escape to their ships or cross to the other side. As a result, the entire Swedish army was unable to build a strategically important fortress. Instead, the Swedes were defeated - this event went down in history as the Battle of the Neva or the Battle of the Neva River.
As a result, the Swedes took the dead nobles with them onto their ships and then sailed away. The victory in the Battle of the Neva dealt a serious blow to the pride of the Swedes. They now had to radically reconsider their policy; it became clear that they would not be able to simply take control of the Novgorod lands. And this victory was the first major one for Prince Alexander Yaroslavovich, he was 19 years old.
Alexander Nevsky Battle of Lake Peipsi
Alexander Nevsky and the Battle of Lake Peipsi are still a subject of debate among historians. In particular, the main subject of controversy is the number of losses on one side and the other.
- If we analyze the works of the 60-70s. in Soviet historiography, we are talking about 15,000-17,000 people;
- Russian chronicles say about 400 died and 50 were taken prisoner;
- Foreign chronicle XIII states that the Order lost 20 people killed and 6 prisoners.
If we evaluate more soberly, then we can say for sure that 15-17 thousand killed in the battle is clearly an exaggeration. One thing is clear that the battle at Peipus is considered important in history, and by the standards of the Middle Ages, quite large. It was believed that a battle was large if several dozen people were involved.
At the beginning of 1242, Alexander Nevsky and his brother Andrei, with the help of their father Yaroslav, invaded the Peipus land. They managed to take the Order of the Sword by surprise and recapture Pskov. The Germans began to gather forces. The crusaders and Alexander's army met on Lake Peipsi. The battle took place on April 5, 1242. Yes, it was already spring. But some historians explain that the winter of 1241 - 1242. was very harsh, which is why the battle on the ice of Lake Peipsi became possible. In a fierce battle, the German knights suffered a crushing defeat. Still, it would be more realistic to adhere to the version of the Russian chronicles about those killed and captured.
The Russian army was expecting its approach German troops. The Order's regiments were formed into battle formations, which Russian chronicles call "pig". At the head of the army is a closed triangle, which consists of heavily armed mounted warriors. Next comes close light cavalry and infantry. This part of the army is surrounded by two rows of heavily armed knights.
The significance of Alexander Nevsky's victories
The significance of Alexander Nevsky's victories is very great. He managed to stop the penetration of the threat from the West, preserve the Russian lands, and prevent the forcible catalization of the population. Western states have ceased to lay claim to the territories of Rus', and in this the decisive role is given to Alexander Nevsky.
